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J&J ordered to pay $8B in case linking Risperdal to male breast growth

Johnson & Johnson was ordered by a jury to pay $8 billion in punitive damages to a man who said the company failed to warn of risks regarding its antipsychotic drug Risperdal.

The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas awarded the amount to Nicholas Murray, who said his use of Risperdal as a child caused gynecomastia — a condition that involves enlargement of the breast tissue.

According to Reuters, among thousands of pending Risperdal cases in Pennsylvania, the case is the first in which a jury was able to consider giving punitive damages.

The lawsuits allege the company knew of the risk of gynecomastia but downplayed such risk to doctors, The Wall Street Journal reported.

In 2015, a Philadelphia jury awarded Murray about $1.8 million in damages which were reduced to $680,000 by the judge, who barred the jury from awarding punitive damages.

The New Brunswick, N.J.-based drugmaker said it would move to set aside the verdict, and that the risks for Risperdal are outlined in its prescribing label.

Risperdal, or risperidone, is used to treat schizophrenia. The drug may also be used as a single therapy or in combination with other medicines to treat certain episodes related to bipolar disorder.

Separately, on Oct. 1, J&J agreed to pay $20.4 million in a settlement deal which resolved all claims of Ohio counties Cuyahoga and Summit with no admission of liability. This agreement removed the drugmaker from the federal trial regarding certain companies' alleged role in the opioid epidemic.